Causes of the American Revolution

Most people know that the “Shot Heard ’Round the World”—an armed clash between British soldiers and colonial minutemen in April 1775—marks the start of the American Revolution. When the fighting ended, the thirteen American colonies had gained their freedom, and inspired the leaders of future revolts in France and throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. This book traces the events that led to the American Revolution. It explains the ideas about the right to self-government that began to circulate in the colonies during the 1760s. It discusses the rising tensions as Britain imposed repressive policies on the colonies, which in turn led some American leaders to promote outright independence. Although the war might have been avoided if both sides had been willing to compromise, by 1775 conflict was inevitable.